Monk. Spiritual Leader. Motivational Speaker.
His Holiness Romapada Swami was born on December 27th, 1948, as Brian Rumbaugh in the small town of Utica in upstate New York. His family was a pious, middle-class, Christian family who attended church weekly. Starting at a young age, Romapada Swami contemplated the Bible’s messages and exhibited an attraction to God. Romapada Swami was a responsible, principle-centered and high achieving young boy.
As a teenager, many of Romapada Swami’s core questions did not receive satisfactory answers from his spiritual superiors at the time. It was not until Romapada Swami met his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (commonly addressed as Srila Prabhupada), that he found clear and convincing answers to his questions.
While studying at the State University of New York, in 1969, Romapada Swami attended a lecture given by Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada, along with the poet Allen Ginsberg, was chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Although Romapada Swami was unable to understand Srila Prabhupada’s lecture due to his thick and unfamiliar Bengali accent, this experience left a deep impression on his heart.
Before Romapada Swami had met Srila Prabhupada, he was on the pre-medical track and was admitted to medical school. However, Romapada Swami decided to join the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Romapada Swami felt very grateful to Srila Prabhupada for bringing bhakti yoga (the practice of devotional service) to the Western world. Romapada Swami’s decision for life was made. Initially, Romapada Swami’s family thought his interest in Krishna consciousness to be a ‘phase’. Over time, Romapada Swami’s parents and siblings grew to appreciate the value-based life that he was living and felt proud of him.
In 1971, Romapada Swami was initiated by his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. He served as the temple president for the New York temple and was fully involved in book distribution and sharing the teachings of Srila Prabhupada with everyone. In 1983, Romapada Swami accepted sannyasa, or the renounced order of life. In 1985, Romapada Swami became an official initiating spiritual teacher within ISKCON. He also served as a General Body Commissioner (GBC) for many temples within ISKCON.
He traveled, and continues to travel, extensively throughout America and world-wide sharing Krishna consciousness to a wide range of audiences. Through his careful cultivation, there are robust spiritual communities in major cities throughout the world. Romapada Swami has been a guest speaker at many Fortune 500 corporations.
Romapada Swami remains committed and dedicated to college outreach and education, visiting many universities conducting programs to share bhakti yoga. Under his guidance, many universities now have Bhakti Yoga clubs. To name a few: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Illinois, Penn State, Northwestern University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of South Florida.
Romapada Swami also conducts several, spiritually nourishing retreats and seminars throughout the year and also leads an annual pilgrimage to various sacred sites in India.
Romapada Swami’s focus is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn the teachings of his spiritual master and to provide meaningful, practical methods through which everyone can develop their relationship with God.
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